MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin is speaking out about the controversial Rockwool insulation plant under construction in Ranson.
Manchin says a lot has changed since the Rockwool groundbreaking he attended earlier this year. He spoke on WEPM’s “Panhandle Live” during a Thursday visit to the eastern panhandle.
“They asked me to come and I said ‘sure, I’m always happy to come’. No one said a word. Everything was fine and we were happy to have them. They were going through all of the processes and the permits were all in place. So I never heard a word and then later on it became such a real concern for a lot of people thinking they didn’t know about this.”
He adds he is interested in working with both federal and local agencies to come to an agreement with Jefferson County citizens.
“The only thing I will continue to offer is to facilitate a meeting to bring the EPA in and the DEP. (Also) to bring in the local people who basically have been working on this project. I know a lot of these public officials and these are good people. I’ve worked with them for many years.”
Manchin sent a letter to EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler on September 4. He wrote, in part:
“While I recognize that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) was the issuing agency for the facility’s required permit under the Clean Air Act’s national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards, I believe that, as our nation’s leading environmental agency, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should promptly offer its expertise to these communities. In particular, ROCKWOOL has committed to working with the Jefferson County Board of Education to “review the published research forming the basis for the NAAQS and MACT standards as well as the air modeling.” I encourage you to offer EPA staff and resources to support and engage in these discussions with the Board of Education. My constituents deserve additional attention to this matter.”
Manchin also penned a letter to Rockwool on August 28. Rockwool President Trent Ogilvie responded on September 4.
A group of protesters gathered outside of the Jefferson County Development Authority on Tuesday in opposition to the facility, noting air pollution and the plant’s close proximity to three schools.
Construction on the site is expected to be completed in early 2020.